Will Buckhead stay Democratic?

AJC Political Insider columnist Jim Galloway has touched off a spirited debate among Buckhead political circles with musings that Buckhead will remain within Rep. John Lewis 4th Congessional District during Reapportionment. Some GOP forces want Buckhead represented by Republican congressman Tom Price of the 6th District.

Galloway's theory was that the GOP-dominated Ga. Legislature may find it prudent to keep Buckhead Democratic, heading off possible Voting Rights Act challenges and increasing GOP fund-raising opportunities in the "open city" of Buckhead.

Rep. Edward Lindsey, the Republican majority whip who represents Buckhead, reportedly had a spirited reaction to Galloway's musings. Galloway cited an e-mail Lindsey sent to his constituents asking them to lobby Gov. Nathan Deal and legislators to give Buckhead a Republican district.

Meanwhile, movers like the Buckhead Council of Neighborhoods want Buckhead to again have its own state senator, as in the days of Paul Coverdell and Mike Egan. They don't feel Buckhead's interests are well-tended by the liberal Democrats Vincent Fort and Horenca Tate, who both live far south of Peachtree Creek.

With an increased population (despite Atlanta's dismal unemployment picture), Georgia will get a new congressional district. Some are pushing for Buckhead to be the site of that new district, which would be safely Republican of course.

The maneuvers and horse-trading begins Aug. 15, when the Legislature goes into its special reapportionment session. Looks like Buckhead will be at the center of the action.